3D Sound positioning with distributed sensors

ABSTRACT

A method of providing audiometric feedback from a network of distributed body sensors using one or more earpieces includes receiving signals from the network of distributed body sensors at the one or more wireless earpieces, processing the signals received at the one or more wireless earpieces to determine a location of individual body sensors within the network of distributed body sensors relative the one or more earpieces, and producing audiometric feedback at the one or more wireless earpieces at least partially based on the locations of the individual body sensors relative to the one or more earpieces.

PRIORITY STATEMENT

This application is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 15/799,623, filed on Oct. 31, 2017 and claimspriority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/416,587, filed onNov. 2, 2016, both of which are Titled 3D Sound Positioning withDistributed Sensors all of which are hereby incorporated by reference intheir entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to wearable devices. More particularly,but not exclusively, the present invention relates to earpieces.

BACKGROUND

What is needed are methods and systems for wearable devices. Methods andsystems which allow for increased functionality for earpieces when usedin combination with other wearable devices.

SUMMARY

Therefore, it is a primary object, feature, or advantage of the presentinvention to improve over the state of the art.

It is a further object, feature, or advantage of the present inventionto provide audiometric feedback in a three-dimensional manner from bodysensor signals.

It is a still further object, feature, or advantage of the presentinvention to locate a body sensor using a multitude of differentmethods.

According to one aspect, a method of providing audiometric feedback froma network of distributed body sensors using one or more earpieces isprovided. The method includes receiving signals from the network ofdistributed body sensors at the one or more wireless earpieces,processing the signals received at the one or more wireless earpieces todetermine a location of individual body sensors within the network ofdistributed body sensors relative the one or more earpieces, andproducing audiometric feedback at the one or more wireless earpieces atleast partially based on the locations of the individual body sensorsrelative to the one or more earpieces. The signals may be sound signals.The audiometric feedback may be based on changes in the location of theindividual body sensors relative to the one or more earpieces due tomovement.

The audio metric feedback may include an audiometric rhythmic signalsynchronized to the movement. The method may further include encodingsensor information from the individual body sensors within the soundsignals and decoding the sensor information from the individual bodysensors at the one or more wireless earpieces. Alternatively, thesignals may be communicated over skin of a user of the distributed bodysensors and the one or more earpieces.

One or more of the distributed body sensors may be associated with anarticle of clothing. One or more of the distributed body sensors may beassociated with a band.

In one implementation, a system includes an earpiece having an earpiecehousing, a processor disposed within the earpiece housing, a microphoneoperatively connected to the earpiece housing and the processor, whereinthe microphone is configured to receive voice commands, a wirelesstransceiver operatively connected to the earpiece housing and theprocessor, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to receive asignal from at least one body sensor, and a speaker operativelyconnected to the earpiece housing and the processor, wherein the speakeris configured to provide audiometric feedback from one or more bodysensors in a three-dimensional manner.

One or more of the follow features may be included. The earpiece maycomprise a set of earpieces. The set of earpieces may comprise a leftearpiece and a right earpiece. The earpiece housing may be composed ofsoundproof materials. The earpiece housing may be configured tosubstantially enclose an ear canal. The earpiece housing may be furtherconfigured to substantially fit within the ear canal. The earpiecehousing may also have a sheath attached to a side proximate to the earcanal. The wireless transceiver of the left earpiece and the wirelesstransceiver of the right earpiece may be configured to triangulate aposition of one or more body sensors from the signal. A gestural controlinterface may be operatively connected to the earpiece housing and theprocessor. The gestural control interface may be further configured toreconfigure the processor, the microphone, or the wireless transceiverin response to a gesture. A sensor may be operatively connected to theearpiece housing and the processor, wherein the sensor may be configuredto determine the position of one or more body sensors operativelyconnected to the user. The sensor may be configured to sense one or moremotions of the user. A bone conduction microphone may be positionedalong a temporal bone and may be configured to receive body sounds fromthe user. The processor may be configured to provide noise cancellationsound at the speaker, wherein the noise cancellation sound may beconfigured to substantially neutralize one or more body sounds viadestructive interference. The speaker may be configured to short out ifthe decibel level of the audiometric feedback exceeds a certain level.

In another implementation, a method of determining a position of a bodysensor using a set of earpieces having a left earpiece and a rightearpiece includes receiving an audio signal from the body sensor at amicrophone disposed within the left earpiece and a microphone disposedwithin the right earpiece, wherein the signal at the left earpiece has afirst arrival time and a first angle of incidence and the signal at theright earpiece has a second arrival time and a second angle ofincidence, transmitting the first arrival time and the first angle ofincidence to the wireless transceiver of the right earpiece via thewireless transceiver of the left earpiece, and triangulating theposition of the body sensor from the first arrival time, second arrivaltime, first angle of incidence and the second angle of incidence using aprocessor operatively connected to the right earpiece.

One or more of the following features may be included. At least onesignal may encode data related to the user. The data may be position ormotion data. Audiometric feedback may be created from the position ormotion data. Audiometric feedback may also be provided using a speakeroperatively connected to the right earpiece, and the audiometricfeedback may be provided in a three-dimensional manner.

In another implementation, a method of determining a position of a bodysensor using a plurality of microphones operatively connected to anearpiece includes transmitting a sound signal using a speakeroperatively connected to the earpiece, receiving a reflected soundsignal at the plurality of microphones, and determining the position ofthe body sensor from a sound intensity differential between thereception of the reflected sound at a first microphone and the receptionof the reflected sound at a second microphone and a time delay betweenthe reception of the reflected sound at the first microphone and thereception of the reflected sound at the second microphone.

One or more of the following features may be included. The sound signalmay be transmitted through the user. The sound signal may be modulated.The reflected sound signal may be correlated with the sound signal usingpulse compression.

In another implementation, a method of providing audiometric feedbackfrom a body sensor using an earpiece includes receiving a signal fromthe body sensor, processing information encoded in the signal using aprocessor disposed within the earpiece, and producing audiometricfeedback derived from the information encoded in the signal in athree-dimensional manner.

One or more of the following features may be included. Body sounds maybe received via a bone conduction microphone operatively connected tothe earpiece. Noise cancellation sound may be provided using a processoroperatively connected to the earpiece, wherein the noise cancellationsound is configured to substantially neutralize the body sounds viadestructive interference. The information encoded in the signal maycomprise kinematic information. The audiometric feedback may besynchronized to the kinematic information. Audiometric feedback derivedfrom the kinematic information may lead the user.

One or more of these and/or other objects, features, or advantages ofthe present invention will become apparent from the specification andfollowing claims. No single embodiment needs provide every object,feature, or advantage. Different embodiments may have different objects,features, or advantages. Therefore, the present invention is not to belimited to or by an object, feature, or advantage stated herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of one embodiment of the system.

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a second embodiment of the system.

FIG. 3 illustrates a left earpiece and a right earpiece.

FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart of a method of providing audiometricfeedback from a body sensor using an earpiece.

FIG. 5 illustrates a network of distributed sensors in operativecommunication with a set of wireless earpieces.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A network of distributed sensors which may be wearable devices (such asshoes, clothing, and socks) is provided. Sensors may be placed on thevarious wearable devices at various positions within the body. Theposition of the sensors on the body is determined. Audiometric feedbackmay be provided. One example is to produce an audiometric rhythmicsignal which can synchronize to a person's movement or lead a person'smovements.

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a system 10 which includes anearpiece 12 having an earpiece housing 14, a processor 16 disposedwithin the earpiece housing 14, a microphone 18 operatively connected tothe processor 16, a wireless transceiver 20 disposed within the earpiecehousing 14 and operatively connected to the processor 16, and a speaker22 disposed within the earpiece housing 14 and operatively connected tothe processor 16. The earpiece housing 14 may be composed of soundproofmaterials or any material resistant to shear and strain and may alsohave a sheath attached to improve comfort, sound transmission, or reducethe likelihood of skin or ear allergies. In addition, the earpiecehousing 14 may also substantially encompass the outer opening of the earcanal of a user to substantially reduce or eliminate external sounds.

The processor 16 may be configured to process the signals received fromthe body sensor, wherein the signals may encode for sound, instructions,or information which may be stored within a data storage device,transmitted to another electronic device, or provided to the user or athird party via the speaker 22. The processor 16 may also process inputsreceived from the microphone 18 or another external electronic deviceand store the inputs in a data storage device or communicate them to theuser or a third party via the speaker 22.

The microphone 18, may be positioned to receive certain ambient sounds.For example, where body worn devices within a network of body wornsensors communicate with the earpiece by emitting sounds, the microphone18 may be used to detect these sounds. Such sounds may be emitted at afrequency higher than human hearing such as over 20 kHz and themicrophone may be configured to detect sounds of such frequencies.

The wireless transceiver 20 may be configured to receive one or moresignals from a wearable device or another electronic device. In oneembodiment the wireless transceiver 20 may provide for wireless radiosignals such as Bluetooth, BLE, or other types of radio signals. Thesignals from each source may be received in any order and may bereceived simultaneously. For example, the wireless transceiver 20 mayreceive one signal from a body sensor related to kinetic informationregarding one of the user's feet, receive another signal from anexternal electronic device which may encode information related to atopic of interest of the user, and receive yet another signal fromsomeone trying to call the user. The signals received by the wirelesstransceiver 20 may travel through the air, may be sent as sound signals,or may be communicated through the user's skin.

The speaker 22, in addition to being operatively connected to theprocessor 16, may be used to provide audiometric feedback in athree-dimensional manner by reproducing audio generated by the wirelessearpiece. For example, the audio may provide motion feedback either fromone or more body sensors and/or provide feedback created by theprocessor 16 from data received from one or more body sensors the user'sfeet are not properly aligned or the user's gait is not optimal. Theaudiometric feedback may be provided in such a manner the userinterprets the feet-related feedback as emanating from the ground, orthe gait feedback as emanating from the user's upper legs. This may beperformed by generating three-dimensional sound and setting sound sourcelocations appropriately to provide the desired effect on the user'sperception of the sound. The speaker 22 may also be used to producemusic, sounds, instructions, or information originating from a signal ofa wearable device, a signal from another electronic device, themicrophone 18 or a data storage device. For example, the speaker 22 mayproduce a song, a sound, a podcast, a newscast, a forecast, or anythingelse of interest to the user selected from a menu by the user or thirdparty, which may be prompted by a voice command or a gesture. Thespeaker 22 may also communicate a notification of the choice the user ora third party selected so the user or third party may change theselection if an error was made.

FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment of the system 10 comprising anearpiece 12 having an earpiece housing 14, a processor 16 disposedwithin the earpiece housing 14, at least one microphone 18 operativelyconnected to the processor 16, a wireless transceiver 20 operativelyconnected to the processor 16, a speaker 22 operatively connected to theprocessor 16, a sensor 24 which may comprise a bone conductionmicrophone 32 and/or an inertial sensor 34, a gesture control interface26 with at least one emitter 42 and at least one detector 44 operativelyconnected to the processor 16, a transceiver 28 disposed within theearpiece housing 14, a data storage device 30 operatively connected tothe processor 16, and at least one LED 36, and a battery 40 disposedwithin the earpiece housing 14 and operatively connected to variouscomponents.

The earpiece housing 14 may be composed of one or more metal or plasticmaterials substantially resistant to straining and shearing stresses andmay also have a sheath attached to improve comfort, sound transmission,or reduce the likelihood of skin or ear allergies. In addition, theearpiece housing 14 may also substantially encompass an outer opening ofa user's ear canal to substantially reduce or eliminate external soundsto further improve audio transparency and may be also be configured tosubstantially fit with the user's ear canal to facilitate audiotransmission. The earpiece housing may be an ear bud styleconfiguration.

A processor 16 may be disposed within the earpiece housing 14 and may beconfigured to process one or more signals from one or more body sensors,one or more signals from another wearable device, process voice commandsfrom a user or a third party, process one or more signals from thewireless transceiver 20, process one or more signals from thetransceiver 28, process one or more signals originating from the datastorage device 30, process one or more signals from the bone conductionmicrophone 32, or process one or more signals from the inertial sensor34, wherein the signals may encode for music, newscasts, podcasts,commentary, instructions, information related to sensor readings, orother forms of digital media and/or information. The processor 16 mayalso, in addition to processing the signals, produce the signals fromthe microphone 18, the wireless transceiver 20, the transceiver 28, thedata storage device 30, the bone conduction microphone 32, or theinertial sensor 34 at the speaker 22. The processor 16 may also bereconfigured by the user or a third-party using gestures read by agestural control interface 26, a voice command received by one or moremicrophones 18, or a signal received by the wireless transceiver 20 orthe transceiver 28.

One or more microphones 18 may be operatively connected to the earpiecehousing 14 and the processor 16 and may be configured to receive one ormore voice commands which may be used to cease, commence, change, ormodify one or more functions of the earpiece 12. For example, a voicecommand to cease receiving ambient sounds may be provided by the user ora third party saying, “Cease reception of outside sounds,” or a voicecommand to play the fifth song in a playlist may be provided by the useror a third party saying, “Play song five in playlist,” or “Skip to songfive.” Other commands may be used to cease, commence, change or modifyother functions of the earpiece 12. In addition, one or more microphones18 may also be configured to receive ambient sounds from one or moreoutside sources, which may originate from the user, a third party, amachine, an animal, another earpiece, another electronic device, or evennature itself. The ambient sounds received by the microphone 18 mayinclude a word, a combination of words, a sound, a combination ofsounds, or any combination. The sounds may be of any frequency and neednot necessarily be audible to the user and may be used to reconfigureone or more components of the earpiece 12.

A wireless transceiver 20 may be disposed within the earpiece housing 14and operatively connected to the processor 16 and may be configured to,in addition to receiving one or more signals from a body sensor, receiveone or more signals from and transmit one or more signals to at leastone wearable device, and/or receive one or more signals from one or moreexternal electronic devices. All the signals may be transmitted to theprocessor 16 for further processing. The external electronic devices thewireless transceiver 20 may be configured to receive signals frominclude Bluetooth devices, mobile devices, desktops, laptops, tablets,modems, routers, communications towers, cameras, watches, third-partyearpieces, earpieces, or other electronic devices capable oftransmitting or receiving wireless signals. The signals received by thewireless transceiver 20 may encode for sound, instructions, orinformation. The wireless transceiver 20 may receive or transmit morethan one signal simultaneously.

A speaker 22 may be operatively connected to the processor 16 and, inaddition to being configured to provide audiometric feedback in athree-dimensional manner, may be configured to produce one or moreambient and/or non-ambient sounds from one or more microphones 16 orproduce audio output derived from one or more signals from the wirelesstransceiver 20, the transceiver 28, or the data storage device 30. Theproduced sounds may consist of musical sounds, non-musical sounds,commentary, instructions, miscellaneous information, or anything else ofinterest or importance to the user.

One or more sensors 24 may be operatively connected to the earpiecehousing 14 and the processor 16 and may be configured to sense at leastone user motion and may also be configured to read sounds or motions notascertainable by other components of the earpiece 12. For example, abone conduction microphone 32 may be configured to receive body soundsfrom the temporal bone of the user's skull and transmit the body soundsto the processor 16, which may then create a noise cancellation soundconfigured to substantially neutralize each unique body sound theprocessor 16 receives using destructive interference techniques. Aninertial sensor 34 may also be employed to ascertain the movement of theuser. For example, the inertial sensor 34 may sense a running speed ofthe user or an arm speed of a third party which may be communicated tothe processor 16, which may be used in providing audiometric feedbackrelated to an athletic or personal goal of the user. Each sensor 24 maybe positioned at any location on the earpiece housing 14 conducive toreceiving information and need not necessarily be in direct contact witheither the user or the external environment.

A gesture control interface 26 having at least one emitter 42 and adetector 44 may be operatively connected to the earpiece housing 14 andthe processor 16 and may be configured to allow the user or a thirdparty to control one or more functions of the earpiece 12. For example,a menu may be prompted through the use of a gesture with the gesturalcontrol interface 26, which may allow the user or a third party tolisten to a song either stored within the data storage device 30 orreceived through the wireless transceiver 20, listen to a playlist,newscast, podcast, or a weather report received through the wirelesstransceiver 20 or stored within the data storage device 30, obtaininformation on the user's current surroundings, or anything else ofinterest to the user or a third party, and the aforementioned list isnon-exclusive. The selections may be chosen using one or more additionalgestures or using one or more voice commands from the user and/or athird party. The types of gestures used with the gesture controlinterface 26 to control the earpiece 12 include, without limitation,touching, tapping, swiping, use of an instrument, or any combination ofthe gestures. Touching gestures used to control the earpiece 12 may beof any duration and may include the touching of areas not part of thegesture control interface 26. Tapping gestures used to control theearpiece 12 may include one or more taps and need not be brief. Swipinggestures used to control the earpiece 12 may include a single swipe, aswipe changing direction at least once, a swipe with a time delay, aplurality of swipes, or any combination.

A transceiver 28 may be disposed within the earpiece housing 14 and maybe configured to receive signals from and to transmit signals to asecond earpiece of the user if the user is using more than one earpiece.The transceiver 28 may receive or transmit more than one signalsimultaneously. The transceiver 28 may be of any number of typesincluding a near field magnetic induction (NFMI) transceiver.

One or more data storage devices 30 may be operatively connected to theearpiece housing 14 and the processor 16 and may be configured to storedata or information related to one or more signals received from awearable device, body sensor, external electronic device, or acombination. One or more data storage devices 30 may also have one ormore programs preinstalled which may be (1) used by the processor 16 inprocessing one or more signals, (2) used by the processor 16 inexecuting one or more commands to be carried out by one or morecomponents of the earpiece 12, (3) accessible via a gesture or voicecommand, or (4) transmitted to an external electronic device.

One or more LEDs 36 may be operatively connected to the processor 16 andmay be configured to emit light to convey information to a userconcerning the earpiece 12. The LEDs 36 may be in any area on theearpiece 12 suitable for viewing by the user or a third party and mayconsist of as few as one diode which may be provided in combination witha light guide. In addition, the LEDs 36 may be discernable by a humaneye or an electronic device and need not have a minimum luminescence.

FIG. 3 illustrates a pair of earpieces 12 which includes a left earpiece12A and a right earpiece 12B. The left earpiece 12A has a left earpiecehousing 14A. The right earpiece 12B has a right earpiece housing 14B.The left earpiece 12A and the right earpiece 12B may be configured tosubstantially encompass an outer opening of a user's ear canal tosubstantially prevent external sounds from reaching the user's ear canaland/or fit within the user's ear canal to minimize the distance betweenthe speakers and a user's tympanic membranes. The earpiece housings 14Aand 14B may be composed of metallic materials, plastic materials, or anymaterial with substantial shear and strain resistance and may also beconfigured to be soundproof to improve audio transparency. A microphone18A is shown on the left earpiece 12A and a microphone 18B is shown onthe right earpiece 12B. The microphones 18A and 18B may be locatedanywhere on the left earpiece 12A and the right earpiece 12Brespectively and each microphone may be configured to receive one ormore voice commands. Speakers 22A and 22B may be configured tocommunicate audiometric feedback 46A and 46B.

Various methods may be used for determining a position of a body sensorusing a set of earpieces having a left earpiece and a right earpiece.For example, a signal from the body sensor may be received by both awireless transceiver disposed within the left earpiece and a wirelesstransceiver disposed within the right earpiece. The signal may arrive ateach wireless transceiver at different times and at different angles ofincidence. The body sensors transmitting the signal may either bedirectly worn by a user or may be part of another wearable device suchas a watch or item of clothing. The signal transmitted by the bodysensor may encode positional data related to the user (for example, itmay indicate it is worn on a left side of the body or right side of thebody), kinetic or motion data related to the user, data or informationrelated to persons, animals, or objects adjacent to the user, terraindata, health data related to the user, weather data, data or informationrelated to a task or goal of the user or a third party, or anything elsea body sensor is capable of sensing. In addition, signals from more thanone body sensor may be received by the wireless transceivers. Forexample, a body sensor located on the user's foot may sense and transmita signal with information concerning the user's speed or gait, anotherbody sensor located on the user's chest may sense the user's heart rateor objects related to the user's goal, such as a building along ajogging route also acts as a checkpoint for the user's progress, andanother body sensor located on the user may relay terrain information ofthe user's immediate vicinity. The signals transmitted by the bodysensors may also be transmitted galvanically through the user's skin andmay be received by the wireless transceivers at any point in time andmay be received in any order. Where communicated through the user'sskin, electrical contact areas may be present on both the wearabledevices as well as one or more earpieces. In addition, the signals maybe transmitted through generating audio transmissions which are outsideof the range of a person's normal hearing but may be captured withmicrophones within the earpieces. In addition, signals from two or morebody sensors may reach the wireless transceivers at different times andrates.

In one embodiment the arrival time and the angle of incidence of thesignal received by the left earpiece may be transmitted to the rightearpiece via wireless transceiver 20. Alternatively, the arrival timeand the angle of incidence of the signal received by the right earpiecemay be transmitted to the left earpiece via wireless transceiver, orboth earpieces may transmit their signal data to the other earpiece. Thetransmission of the arrival time or the angle of incidence to the otherprocessor may be performed continuously or discretely, and theinformation may be transmitted in any order. A processor disposed withinone of the earpieces uses the two arrival times and the two angles ofincidence to determine the position of a body sensor using triangulationalgorithms, direction finding techniques or otherwise. Other algebraicor geometric techniques may also be employed to determine the positionof the body sensor. The processor may receive more than one reading froma body sensor or receive multiple readings from multiple body sensorsoperatively connected to the user; in fact, the position of a bodysensor may be a position function when the user is in motion, with timeas the independent variable and position as the dependent variable.

FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart of a method of providing audiometricfeedback from a body sensor using an earpiece 300. First, in step 302, asignal is received from the body sensor at the earpiece. More than onesignal or signals from multiple body sensors may be received, and thesignals may be received continuously or intermittently. The signals mayencode data related to user position, user motion, user health, tasks,goals, persons, animals, objects, terrain, weather or anything else abody sensor may be capable of sensing. For example, a signal may encodedata related to the user's body temperature and heart rate or may encodelower body motion data for further analysis.

In step 304, a processor operatively connected to the earpiece processesdata or information encoded in the signal received from the body sensor.The processor may be any number of different processors or combinationsof processors. More than one signal or one body sensor may be involved,and the processor may process the signals it receives in any order. Theprocessor may create audiometric feedback derived from the data orinformation encoded in the signals it receives, wherein the audiometricfeedback may be related to running speed, jogging speed, user gait, bodytemperature, heart rate, blood sugar, electrolytes, body moisture,current temperature, current obstacles, checkpoints, goals, tasks, oranything else a body sensor may sense or the user may desire. Theprocessor may also process signals from a data storage deviceoperatively connected to the processor or an external electronic device,wherein the signals may encode for music, sound, instructions,information or other media or informational-related topics, and mayincorporate the signals in the audiometric feedback. For example, theprocessor may integrate instructions to take a rest stop stored in thedata storage device with instructions on how to reach the rest stop intothe audiometric feedback if both the current temperature and the bodytemperature exceed a specified value. In addition, the processor mayincorporate certain sounds or music cues into the audiometric feedbackif certain milestones have been met or certain checkpoints have beenreached. The processor may also create noise cancellation sounds for anybodily-related sounds distracting the user. The bodily-related soundsmay originate from any part of the user's body and may also include anyclothing or jewelry the user is wearing or any objects the user may becarrying.

In step 306, the processor produces the audiometric feedback derivedfrom the encoded information at a speaker operatively connected to theearpiece. The audiometric feedback may be provided in athree-dimensional manner. For example, if the user is listening to aninstructional audio detailing how to properly swing a golf club and theuser's feet placement is incorrect or otherwise suboptimal, the user mayhear, “spread your feet six more inches” as if the feedback originatedfrom the user's feet. In addition, the audiometric feedback may beproduced in such a manner as to synchronize with the user's movements orlead the user. For example, if the user is listening to an instructionaldancing audio, three-dimensional audiometric feedback may be providedsynchronizing with the dance movements. In addition, if the user islistening to a workout routine which is configured to operate with oneor more body sensors present on the user's body, sound cues may beprovided to lead the user as to proper body movement or proper bodymechanics to optimize the workout. Additional feedback, music, sound,instructions, information, or other media-related output unrelated to abody sensor may also be produced at the speaker, and the speaker mayshort out if the sound level at any point exceeds a certain soundintensity threshold.

FIG. 5 illustrates a pictorial representation of a network of bodysensors associated with body worn or wearable devices 204 which mayinclude smart socks 200, articles of clothing, jewelry, watches withwatch bands 202, fitness bands, or any other number of different bodyworn items. As shown in FIG. 5, the set of wireless earpieces 10 maycommunicate with each individual body sensor within the network of bodysensors. The communication may be one-way or bi-directional dependingupon the embodiment. This communication may take place in various ways.

In one embodiment, audio may be generated at the body worn or wearabledevices which is detected at the wireless earpieces 20. The audio may beoutside a range of normal human hearing such as above 20 kHz.Alternatively, this communication may take place such as bycommunicating data through the skin such as by method disclosed in U.S.Pat. No. 6,754,472 to Williams et al., hereby incorporated by referencein its entirety. Where communication takes place through the skin eachof the wearable devices may have contact areas for electricallyconnecting with the skin. In other embodiments, this communication maytake place through radio communications. Where this communication takesplace through radio communications, it is preferred both a left earpieceand a right earpiece be used with each of the left earpiece and theright earpiece capable of communication with the wearable devices.Signal strength and other signal characteristics may be used to identifyrelative location of the wearable devices to the wireless earpieces. Forexample, a sock with a stronger signal strength with a left earpiecethan a right earpiece may be indicative the sock is being worn on a leftfoot instead of a right foot. Of course, direction finding,triangulation, and/or other techniques may be applied to locate bodyworn devices relative to one or more wireless earpieces.

The audiometric feedback produced may be in a three-dimensional manner.Thus, different perceived sound sources 210 may be placed at differentlocations within a three-dimensional sound space as shown. Thus, forexample, audiometric feedback may be perceived as being reproduced fromlocations. For example, audiometric feedback may be perceived as beingreproduced from a location of the sensor for which the audiometricfeedback is provided.

Therefore, various method, system and apparatus have been shown anddescribed. Numerous options, variations, and alternatives arecontemplated. The present invention is not to be limited to the specificembodiments shown and described herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of locating a distributed body sensorwith a network of distributed body sensors using one or more earpiecescomprising: receiving a sound signal from the individual body sensorwithin the network of distributed body sensors at a first wirelessearpiece; receiving the sound signal from the individual body sensorwithin the network of distributed body sensors at a second wirelessearpiece; and processing the sound signal at the first and the secondwireless earpieces by a processor of the first and the second wirelessearpieces to determine a location of the individual body sensor withinthe network of distributed body sensors relative to the first and thesecond earpieces.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the stepof producing audiometric feedback at the first or the second wirelessearpieces based on the location of the individual body sensor relativeto the first or the second earpieces.
 3. The method of claim 2 whereinthe audiometric feedback is based on changes in the location of theindividual body sensor relative to the first or the second earpieces dueto movement.
 4. The method of claim 3 wherein the audiometric feedbackcomprises an audiometric rhythmic signal synchronized to the movement.5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of encoding sensorinformation from the individual body sensor within the sound signal anddecoding the sensor information from the individual body sensor at thethe first or the second wireless earpieces.
 6. The method of claim 1wherein the signal is communicated over skin of a user of thedistributed body sensor and the first or the second earpieces.
 7. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the distributed body sensor is associated withan article of clothing.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one ofthe distributed body sensors is associated with a band.
 9. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the audiometric feedback is represented bythree-dimensional sound.
 10. The method of claim 9 wherein theaudiometric feedback is positioned at a location to be perceived asemanating from a position of the distributed body sensor.
 11. The methodof claim 1 wherein the signals are wireless signals.
 12. A method oflocating a body sensor from a network of distributed body sensors usingone or more earpieces comprising: receiving at least a first signal fromthe body sensor within the network of distributed body sensors at afirst wireless earpiece; receiving at least a second signal from thebody sensor within the network of distributed body sensors at a secondwireless earpiece; receiving at least a third signal from either thefirst or second wireless earpiece at the second or first wirelessearpiece; wherein the first, the second and third signal are received bythe first and the second wireless earpieces at a different time or angleof incidence; processing at least the first signal, the second signaland the third signal received at the first or the second wirelessearpieces to determine location of the body sensor within the network ofdistributed body.
 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising thestep of producing audiometric feedback at the first or the secondwireless earpieces at least partially based on the location of at leastone of the body sensor relative to the first or the second wirelessearpiece.
 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the first signal isreceived at the first earpiece and has a first arrival time and a firstangle of incidence and the second signal is received at the secondearpiece and has a second arrival time and a second angle of incidence.15. The method of claim 14 wherein a processor disposed of within thefirst earpiece or the second earpiece determines the location of atleast one of the individual body sensors using the first arrival timeand the first angle of incidence and the second arrival time and thesecond angle of incidence.
 16. The method of claim 12 wherein the firstor the second wireless earpieces is configured to triangulate thelocation of at least one of the individual body sensors.
 17. The methodof claim 12 wherein the first or the second wireless earpiece furthercomprise at least one wireless transceiver configured to communicatewith an external electronic device.
 18. The method of claim 13 whereinthe audiometric feedback is positioned at a location to be perceived asemanating from a position of the body sensor.
 19. The method of claim 12wherein the first or the second wireless earpieces further comprises aplurality of microphones operatively connected to the wireless earpiecesand a speaker is operatively connected to the first or the secondwireless earpieces.
 20. The method of claim 19 wherein the location ofat least one of the individual body sensors is determined by soundintensity differential.